Riverside City College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Riverside City College in Riverside, CA with Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Riverside City College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Riverside City College is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Riverside City College 26:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Riverside City College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverside City College or SBCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Riverside City College than SBCC ($10,174 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 17.4% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,086 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $188 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.8% higher at Riverside City College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $2,066 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Santa Barbara City College (78% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,463 vs. $5,889).

Riverside City College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Riverside City College or SBCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SBCC and Riverside City College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Riverside City College - Open admission; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026; SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Riverside City College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverside City College and SBCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($8,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($82 vs. $98).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 39%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.